The International Day of Forests reminds us that the health of our planet depends on the protection and restoration of its forest ecosystems. Forests are essential for life on Earth: they are home to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity, absorb over 25% of global CO₂ emissions, and provide livelihoods for more than 1.6 billion people. Globally, reforestation efforts have made significant progress, with more than 59 million hectares restored in the last 20 years.
Significant efforts have been made worldwide to reverse deforestation. For example, between 2010 and 2020, the deforestation rate decreased from 16 million hectares per year to 10 million, thanks to conservation and reforestation initiatives. Countries like China, India, and Ethiopia have led massive tree-planting campaigns, restoring millions of hectares.
However, challenges remain: every year, approximately 10 million hectares of forests are lost, according to the FAO, affecting biodiversity and accelerating climate change.
At AgroAmérica, we reaffirm our commitment to forest conservation under our No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation policy. We focus on preserving primary forests, restoring landscapes, and protecting key ecosystems in the countries where we operate: Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, and Panama.
Latin America: Challenges in Forest Conservation
Our reforestation and conservation efforts are even more crucial considering the alarming deforestation rates in the region:
🌳 Guatemala: The Maya Forest, in the Petén department, has lost approximately 33% of its forest cover over the past 23 years. Despite being protected as part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, this area faces one of the highest forest loss rates in Latin America.
🌳 Peru: In 2022, the country lost approximately 146,575 hectares of forests, a 6% increase compared to the previous year. Peru ranks third in deforestation in the Amazon region, behind Brazil and Bolivia.
🌳 Ecuador: Ecuador has one of the highest deforestation rates in Latin America, losing an estimated 60,000 to 200,000 hectares of native forests annually.
AgroAmérica’s Actions for Conservation and Reforestation
To address these challenges, AgroAmérica has taken concrete steps to reverse forest loss and promote ecosystem restoration:
✅ Protection of 972 hectares of forests within our plantations, contributing to carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.
✅ Conservation of over 19,000 hectares in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, in partnership with Solidaridad and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
✅ Implementation of a forest nursery with a capacity for 100,000 trees, used for reforesting riverbanks and degraded areas in Guatemala.
✅ Donation of more than 20,000 trees to government institutions, NGOs, and local communities to support reforestation programs.
Technology and Monitoring for Zero Deforestation
Using the Global Forest Watch digital platform, AgroAmérica monitors deforestation and forest fire activity in real time near its operations. This has helped us maintain zero deforested hectares and zero detected fires in our plantations and those of our suppliers.
Restoration of Key Ecosystems
One of our most ambitious projects is the restoration of the Manchón Guamuchal ecosystem, an internationally significant wetland on Guatemala’s Pacific coast. Since 2021, in collaboration with Rainforest Alliance, local communities, and government authorities, we have restored 135 hectares of mangroves in just two years, with a goal of 250 hectares by 2025.
A Greener Future for All
Forests are essential for life, and their conservation is a shared responsibility. At AgroAmérica, we will continue driving reforestation initiatives, biodiversity protection, and climate change mitigation to ensure our actions create a positive impact on the planet. 🌎🌱
#InternationalDayOfForests #ZeroDeforestation #SustainableAgroAmérica